Magnotta spotted in Paris bar, hotel manager reports

MONTREAL — A Paris hotel manager told the Montreal Gazette on Saturday that his neighbour, the manager of a bar and restaurant, confirmed to police that Montreal fugitive and suspected killer Luka Rocco Magnotta had a drink at his bar on Thursday.

Sbyibi el Bachir, manager of Hotel Studio des Batignolles in the 17th arrondissement in Paris, said in an interview that Dominique Massonneau, manager of Le Petit Batignolles, told him on Saturday that Magnotta stopped by his moderately-priced cafe — and that Massonneau had reported it to police.

The information could not be independently verified immediately.

Agence France-Presse reported that a witness told the news service that investigators looked at security tapes at Le Petit Batignolles Friday and came out with soft drink bottles, handling them gingerly, apparently in an effort to avoid erasing fingerprints.

A man who identified himself as the manager of Le Petit Batignolles — presumably Massonneau — told the Gazette: "I know nothing."

"If you want answers, call the police," he said before hanging up.

In a second, shorter call, he refused to give his name or say if he had been asked by police to stay mum.

The modestly priced bar/restaurant on Truffaut St. that specializes in Algerian cuisine is in the 17th arrondissement near Place Clichy, where many reasonably priced hotels and restaurants are located. It's also near the Parc Monceau, where joggers and families mix with others down on their luck.

Bachir said that Massonneau did not report Magnotta's presence on Thursday because he had never heard of the alleged killer accused of dismembering a recently arrived Chinese immigrant in the Cote des Neiges area of Montreal.

Asked if Montreal police are aware of the reported Magnotta sighting in Paris, Const. Raphael Bergeron said "we don't conduct business in the public arena."

"But if you are aware of this, I imagine that French authorities have also relayed that information to our investigators here . . ."

Bachir said that two police officers — he could not say from which squad — interviewed him Friday.

"They showed me a couple of pictures and wanted to know if this guy had ever been here. I told them no.

"Then they said that if ever I see him, to call them. I said yes. Obviously.

"So then I talked with Dominique today (Saturday), and that's when he told me that this guy had been at his bar on Thursday."

Bachir said that Magnotta would have stood out at his hotel, which is used heavily as a transit point by families on social assistance.

"It would not be the proper place for someone like that."

French police appear convinced that Magnotta is in their midst.

Various news outlets reported Saturday that "targeted searches" by police included the descent on Le Petit Batignolles.

AFP said that its source could not say whether investigators were going to places Magnotta may have frequented on previous visits or whether they had more recent leads.

The newspaper Liberation reported Saturday that unspecified police corps were "acting in the greatest discretion" and conducting "targeted searches."

Rumours — but few new facts — are swirling in France concerning the possible presence of Canada's most infamous fugitive.

France-Soir showed a photo of Magnotta posing in front of the Eiffel Tower at night. It was evidently taken on a previous trip, but the paper did not date the photo.

Coverage of Montreal's presumed killer, though, slipped a notch or two by Saturday, pushed aside by the story of Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik and reports on how French tennis players are faring at the Roland Garros tournament.

On its webpage, international police organization Interpol did not expand on possible new leads beyond the Red Notice — an international wanted alert — datelined from Lyon on Thursday.

The page has Magnotta's picture, age and various aliases and summarizes his alleged crimes, but refers all further inquiries to Canadian authorities.

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